Assistant County Administrator promoted to County Administrator

Santa Rosa County’s Assistant County Administrator Dan Schebler during a planning workshop this morning was named the new County Administrator by county commissioners.

Schebler was hired March 13, 2017 for a newly created $115,000 assistant county administrator.

Following a medical leave of absence taken at the end of 2017, current Santa Rosa County Administrator Tony Gomillion recently announced he will be retiring from his $135,720 position.

Schebler retired from active duty in the U.S. Navy after serving 27 years as a captain and naval flight officer. He’s a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy where he earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. He also earned a master’s degree in national security strategy from the National War College.

Commissioners were in unisom that Schebler should be promoted to the top position, which is responsible for overseeing the county’s $146-million operations.

“It’s nice to know that we’re not going to go through that whole (search) process again,” said Commission Chairman Bob Cole.

District 1 Commissioner Sam Parker said he would like to see the opening for the assistant county administrator position advertised. “It would be great to see if we could get someone with years of experience as administrator or assistant administrator.”

Milton resident Jerry Couey asked county commissioners to eliminate the six-figure assistant job. “The county was pretty big under Hunter Walker, and he never needed an assistant.”

Schebler told the board he had enjoyed the daily challenges over the past year. “I look forward to the opportunity that you all are offering.”